Download Guide to the Gods of Olympus

Guide to the Gods of
Olympus
The Titans
The Titans were a powerful race of
gods that ruled during the “Golden Age”
before the Olympians. They descended
from Gaea, the Earth goddess, and her
son & husband Uranus, god of the sky. They are the
parents of Cronus and Rhea, who are
overthrown by their son Zeus and the Olympians
in the Titanomachy (“War of the Titans”). This began
the rule of the Olympians.
The 12 Titan gods were Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus,
Hyperion, Theia, Coeus, Phoebe, Lapetus,
Crius, Mnemosyne, Tethys, & Themis.
Cronus devouring his
offspring.
Zeus
Roman Name:
Jupiter
Job/Role
God of the Sky,
Ruler of the Gods
Weapon:
Thunderbolt
Animal:
Eagle
Interesting Facts:
-Had numerous affairs
-Defeated his father to become ruler
of the gods
-Brother of Hades and Poseidon
-Zeus Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Poseidon
Roman Name:
Neptune
Job/Role
God of the Sea
Weapon:
Trident
Animal:
Horse
Interesting Facts:
-Zeus’s brother
-Gave the horse to mankind
-Poseidon Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Hades
Roman Name:
Pluto
Job/Role
God of the Underworld
Weapon:
Invisibility Cap
Animal:
Cerebrus (?)
Interesting Facts:
-Wife is Persephone (whole other
story)
-Zeus’ brother
-He is the king of the dead; he is not
“death”. (That would be Thanatos
[Greek] / Orcus [Roman])
-Hades Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Hera
Roman Name:
Juno
Job/Role
Goddess of Marriage
and Women
Weapon:
Animal:
Peacock, Cow
Interesting Facts:
-Wife of Zeus
-Very jealous of his affairs. Since she
couldn’t do much to him, she often
took her anger out on his lovers.
- Hera Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Athena
Roman Name:
Minerva
Job/Role
Goddess of Wisdom
Goddess of the City
Weapon:
carried Zeus’ weapons
Animal:
Owl
Interesting Facts:
- She had no mother. She sprang,
fully grown and in armor, from Zeus’
head
-Athena Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Aphrodite
Roman Name:
Venus
Job/Role
Goddess of Love and
Beauty
Weapon:
Animal:
Dove
Interesting Facts:
-Ironically, she is married to
Hephaestus (Vulcan), the ugliest of
the gods!
-Sometimes considered the mother of
Eros (Cupid)
-Aphrodite Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Ares
Roman Name:
Mars
Job/Role
God of War
Weapon:
Animal:
Dogs and vultures
Interesting Facts:
-Ironically, he is often portrayed as
cowardly.
-Much more popular with the Romans
than with the Greeks
-Son of Zeus and Hera
-Ares Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Apollo
Roman Name:
Apollo
Job/Role
God of Truth, Medicine
& Light. The Musician
God
Animal:
Many, including
dolphin and crow
Interesting Facts:
-also called the Archer God
-had a famous priestess at Delphi
-Apollo Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Hermes
Roman Name:
Mercury
Job/Role
God of commerce &
science
Interesting Facts:
-Messenger of the gods
-protector of thieves
-Invented the lyre
-known for wings on his sandals and
hat, carries the Caduceus
-appears more often in tales than any
of the other gods
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Hephaestus
Roman Name:
Vulcan
Job/Role
God of Fire,
Blacksmith of the
Gods
Interesting Facts:
- He is ugly and lame
- married to Aphrodite, goddess of
Love and Beauty
-Protector of smiths and artisans
-Hephaestus Video
Otto Arantes Pessanha
Artemis
Roman name: Diana
Job/Role: Goddess of the Hunt (later the
Moon)
Weapon: Bow and arrow
Animals: Snake and deer
Interesting facts:
-Is the daughter of Zeus & Leto (a mortal),
and Apollo’s twin sister
-Loved to hunt with arrows dipped in poison
-Is a hunter, but ironically the protector of
wild animals as well
-Artemis Video
Demeter
• Roman name: Ceres
• Job/Role: Goddess of the Harvest
• Symbol: Sheaves of wheat & the cornucopia (horn of
plenty)
• Animals: Many, serpents, pigs, and lizards
• Interesting facts: Demeter has a daughter with Zeus,
named Persephone. Hades falls in love with
Persephone and kidnaps her, taking her to the
underworld, leaving Demeter to wonder Earth
looking for her.
• Demeter Video
Hestia
Roman Name:
Vesta
Job/Role
Goddess of the Hearth
Weapon:
Thunderbolt
Animal:
Eagle
Interesting Facts:
-Zeus’ sister
-Goddess of virgins
-Hestia is only sometimes associated
with the 12 Olympians